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Around the World :: Silk

We like to scourer the world high and wide to find you the best fabrics and patterns it has to offer. But what we never really think about is what the rest of the globe is doing with the same fabrics that we use, what their history of them are and how it fits in with culture.

To start, we’re looking at one of the most luxurious of fibres, silk.

It’s one of our favourite fabrics here at tuiss, and looking at your orders, it seems like you can’t get enough of it too. From the Shantung range to the Palermo and even the real deal, it’s such a versatile fabric that can be decorated and coloured in a whole host of ways.

Europe

The most luxurious of fashion houses are based in Europe, with Milan regarded as one of the most fashionable places in the world. It’s no surprise then that Italians were using silk to decorating their homes since the 16th Century. They had a great fondness for silk curtains, with brocade and natural designs weaved into them.

Germans on the other hand was using the fabric a little more sparingly, decorating their homes with silk cushions and other decorations, thanks to their desire for quality, not quantity.

And the French loved it too. Whilst they may be more noted for their silk lingerie, the French did in fact also use the fabric for their curtains, particularly pairs. (It was the French that introduced us Brits to the idea of pairs of curtains, rather than just a single.)

The Americas

Take a trip across the globe however and you see that the attention turns away from interiors and more towards the sphere of fashion.

Silk is still a fairly new addition to the American lifestyle, with the early uses being reported as for thermal underwear, since America had particular fondness of easy-care and struggled with import.

India

Source: Pinterest

In India silk sarees were traditionally limited to royalty, but then later filtered into the upper classes and is still regarded as the dress for wedding parties.

Asia

Source: Pinterest

On the other hand, Japan has a great history with silk. Kimonos are still very much regarded traditional dress, as well as a ladies’ parasol and fan, which were both historically made by stretching silk over bamboo.

As the origin for silk, China has been at the forefront of made of the silk innovation, including using it in creating the first luxury paper. Even though many mention that the original use was clothing for the imperial family, it was later used in decorative means, as well as practical ways, such as instruments and bow making.

Around The World

And there we have it. From Italy to Germany, America to Japan and India to China, our trip around the world with silk has shown that there’s more to this fabric than simply beautiful curtains.